Enhanced MDC Takes Radio Signaling to the Next Level
BELLEVUE, WA – Icom America
is proud to announce the introduction of Enhanced MDC (EMDC), designed to take
data signaling to the next level. EMDC extends the feature set of the widely
used MDC1200 protocol, allowing increased functionality, such as GPS location,
texting, remote diagnostics and future software upgrades. The new technology is
available in Icom’s IC-F70 series portable and ICF1721 series mobile radios.
“Not only is EMDC fully compatible with MDC1200, but it was also developed to
allow future upgrades in features and functions without making your current
equipment obsolete,” said Chris Lougee, Vice President of Icom America.
“Enhanced MDC will extend the feature set of the widely used MDC 1200 signaling
protocol, which allows for increased functionality.”
EMDC integrates GPS automatic vehicle location and automatic personnel location directly into your
existing radio system. There is no need for external modems, data-only radios,
data-only channels or the requirement to replace an entire fleet of radios and
infrastructure.
Free-form short text messaging of up to 48 characters can be
sent to individual IC-F70 or IC-F1721 series radios or to groups of those
radios. This allows the communications of street addresses, directions or other
information with a lower chance of errors.
Using EMDC, the dispatcher can remotely conduct radio signal strength and battery diagnostics on radios in the
field, as well as adjusting the rate of GPS transmissions.
EMDC is also backward-compatible with traditional MDC1200 system, which allows you to migrate
your system as time and budget permit. Those MDC1200 system radios not equipped
for EMDC will simply ignore the EMDC protocol.
The implementation of an EMDC system requires Icom radios with EMDC, one Icom radio with EMDC used as a
dispatch station, and a Windows® PC with Icom or authorized 3rd party EMDC
software installed at the dispatch console.
Standard MDC Signaling features will still be available, including: Call Alert, Radio Check, PTT ID/Caller ID,
Selective Call, Stun/Revive, Status, Group Calls and Emergency. MDC-1200 is a
1,200 baud rate data system that uses audio frequency shift keying, (AFSK). The
data are sent in bursts over the radio system's voice channel.
Icom America's parent company, Icom Inc., was founded in Osaka Japan. Icom is a publicly held
Japanese corporation; its stock is traded on the Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchange.
Icom began as an engineering and manufacturing company, making advanced, compact
solid-state radio equipment for use by amateur radio enthusiasts. Icom has since
grown to become an industry leader using the D-STAR standard, with a product
line that includes other state-of-the-art digital communications equipment for
land and marine use as well as avionics. Icom America's headquarters are in
Bellevue, Washington. www.icomamerica.com
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